No-Touch Saphenous Vein - Vascular Damage and the London Connection

ABSTRACT In this review, I summarise the circumstances leading to the collaboration between London and Örebro on the basic research performed to study potential mechanisms underlying the improved patency of saphenous veins harvested by the no-touch technique. Histological studies reveal various forms of vascular damage to saphenous vein grafts harvested in conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) whereas no-touch grafts retain a normal architecture. The perivascular fat that remains intact on no-touch saphenous vein grafts seems to play a particularly important role as the "protector" of all layers of the graft. In addition, the perivascular fat is a source of adipose cell-derived factors that may contribute to the success of the no-touch technique. While a number of trials have compared no-touch with conventional grafts following CABG, these have generally been limited to short follow-up periods, low patient numbers, and inadequate histological data. When handling no-touch saphenous vein at harvesting, there is no direct contact of the vein by surgical instruments, spasm does not occur, and high-pressure intraluminal distension is not required. While damage to both endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells are evident at the microscopic and ultrastructural level in conventional saphenous vein grafts, their structure in no-touch grafts is preserved. Also, in no-touch veins, the vasa vasorum remains intact and transmural blood supply is maintained. This microvascular network is disrupted during conventional harvesting, a situation likely to stimulate processes involved in graft occlusion. The use of excess graft material for histology is to be encouraged for the assessment of vascular damage and even surgeon competence. If you don't look, you don't find.

Towards Endoscopic No-Touch Saphenous Vein Graft Harvesting in Coronary Bypass Surgery

ABSTRACT The saphenous vein is the most used conduit for coronary artery bypass surgery. However, the patency rate of this graft is inferior to the internal thoracic artery patency rate, which is the gold standard. Using the conventional technique, the saphenous vein is harvested via a large open incision and excised in such a way that causes both vascular damage and wound healing complications. Consequently, vein graft patency and surgical site infection may be compromised. Graft patency is markedly improved when the saphenous vein is harvested atraumatically with minimal damage and with surrounding cushion of perivascular fat intact. However, despite the improved graft performance, wound healing complications and infection remain a problem. Although wound healing complication is reduced when using endoscopic vein harvesting, there may be a negative impact on graft performance. This is due to vascular damage associated with application of forces to the vein that are usually avoided in open vein harvesting, including traction, adventitial stripping, and venous compression. There is evidence to suggest that improved patency of endoscopically harvested saphenous veins is associated with the surgeon's experience of the technique. Recently, endoscopic methods of harvesting have been described where the saphenous vein is removed intact and with minimal vascular damage caused. In addition, wound healing complications, infection, and scarring are reduced. While the effect of these techniques on vein graft patency have yet to be reported, the ability to obtain a superior graft with reduced wound complications will be of great benefit to patients undergoing coronary revascularization procedures.

Covid-19 - endothelial axis and coronary artery bypass graft patency: a target for therapeutic intervention?

Abstract It has been reported that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection induces endothelial inflammation, therefore facilitating the progression of endothelial and vascular dysfunction in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) involves mainly the use of the saphenous vein (SV) and internal mammary artery as graft material in the stenosed coronary arteries. Unfortunately, graft patency of the SV is low due to endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. We propose that SARS-CoV-2 might cause vascular inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and thrombosis in coronary artery bypass graft vessels by binding angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. Therefore, in this Special Article, we consider the potential influence of COVID-19 on the patency rates of coronary artery bypass graft vessels, mainly with reference to the SV. Moreover, we discuss the technique of SV graft harvesting and the therapeutic potential of focusing on endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, and thrombosis for protecting coronary artery bypass grafts in COVID-19 infected CABG patients.

Analysis of immunostaining and western blotting of endothelin 1 and its receptors in mitral stenosis / Análise da expressão imunohistoquímica e de western blotting da endotelina 1 e seus receptores na estenose mitral

Abstract Introduction: Rheumatic Fever represents a serious public health problem in developing countries, with thousands of new cases each year. It is an autoimmune disease, which occurs in response to infection by streptococcus A. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunolabeling and protein expression for endothelin-1 and 3 (ET-1, ET-3) and its receptors (ETA, ETB) in rheumatic mitral valves. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to identify ET-1/ET-3 and ETA/ETB receptors in rheumatic and control mitral valves. Quantitative analysis of immunostaining for ET-1/ET-3 and ETA/ETB receptors was performed. In addition, western blot analysis was carried out to assess protein levels in tissue samples. Results: ET-1 and ETA receptor immunostaining predominated in stenotic valves, mainly associated with fibrotic regions, inflammatory areas and neovascularization. Quantitative analysis showed that the average area with positive expression of ET-1 was 18.21±14.96%. For ETA and ETB, the mean expressed areas were respectively 15.06±13.13% and 9.20±11.09%. ET-3 did not have a significant expression. The correlation between the expression of both endothelin receptors were strongly positive (R=0.74, P=0.02), but the correlation between ET-1 and its receptor were negative for both ETA (R=-0.37, P=0.25), and ETB (R=-0.14, P=0.39). This data was supported by western blot analysis. Conclusion: The strong correlation between ET-1 and its receptors suggests that both play a role in the pathophysiology of rheumatic mitral valve stenosis and may potentially act as biomarkers of this disease. .

Resumo Introdução: A febre reumática representa um sério problema de saúde pública em países em desenvolvimento, com milhares de novos casos a cada ano. Ela é uma doença autoimune que ocorre em resposta à infecção por estreptococos do grupo A. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a expressão proteica e imunohistoquímica para a endotelina-1 e 3 (ET-1 e ET-3) e seus receptores (ETA e ETB) em valvas mitrais reumáticas. Métodos: Imunohistoquímica foi utilizada para identificar receptores de ET1/ET3 e ETA/ETB em valvas mitrais reumáticas e controles. A análise quantitativa da expressão imunohistoquímica para receptores de ET1/ET3 e ETA/ETB foi também efetuada. Adicionalmente, foi feita análise do western blot para mensurar níveis de proteínas em extratos tissulares. Resultados: A expressão imunohistoquímica de ET-1 e de seu receptor predominou em valvas estenóticas, estando associada com regiões fibróticas, áreas inflamatórias e neovascularização. A análise quantitativa mostrou que a área média com expressão positiva para ET-1 foi de 18,21±14,96%. Para o ETA e o ETB, as áreas médias expressas foram, respectivamente, 15,06±13,13% e 9,20±11,09%. ET-3 não teve uma expressão significante. A correlação entre a expressão dos dois receptores de endotelina foi fortemente positiva (R=0,74, P=0,02); mas a correlação entre ET-1 e o seu receptor foi negativa tanto para ETA (R=-0,37, P=0,25) como para ETB (R=-0,14, P=0,39). Estes dados foram confirmados pela análise do western blot. Conclusão: A forte correlação entre ET-1 e seus receptores sugere que ambos têm papel importante na fisiopatologia da estenose mitral reumática, podendo potencialmente atuar como biomarcadores desta doença. .

Preparation of the saphenous vein for coronary artery bypass grafting: a new technique "no touch" that maintains the vein wall integral and provides high immediate patency

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma nova técnica "no touch" de preparo da veia safena e sua importância clínica. Esta nova técnica consiste na retirada da veia safena do seu leito, juntamente com um pedículo de tecido adiposo, protegendo a veia contra espasmos e, conseqüentemente, da necessidade de distendê-la durante a operação. MÉTODO: O estudo foi realizado em dois tempos: 1) Inicialmente, foi realizado um estudo prospectivo e randomizado, envolvendo 156 pacientes que foram submetidos à operação de revascularização miocárdica. Neste estudo nós comparamos a técnica "no touch" (NT) com duas outras: a convencional (C) e a intermediária (I). Foi feita uma avaliação detalhada da morfologia endotelial, utilizando a microscopia eletrônica, enquanto que a perviabilidade das pontes foi determinada com um exame angiográfico executado num período médio de 18 meses após a operação. 2) Finalmente, a enzima óxido nítrico síntase (NOS) foi identificada com ajuda do estudo imunohistoquímico e também pela localização auto-radiográfica de (3H)-L- Nitro-Arginina (NOARG). RESULTADOS: A avaliação morfológica mostrou integridade endotelial de 97 por cento nas veias que foram tratadas pela técnica NT; enquanto quase metade da superfície endotelial das veias tratadas pelas outras duas técnicas exibiu ausência de células endoteliais. O exame angiográfico revelou perviabilidade de 95,4 por cento para as pontes do grupo NT, 88,9 por cento para as pontes do grupo (C) e 86,2 por cento para as pontes do grupo (I). O estudo imunohistoquímico revelou a presença de NOS nas três camadas que compäem a parede da veia quando, as mesmas, foram tratadas pela técnica NT. Por outro lado, foi observada uma elevada redução desta enzima nas veias que foram tratadas pela técnica (C). A análise auto-radiográfica confirmou os resultados imunohistoquímicos. CONCLUSAO: A integridade endotelial e a atividade da enzima óxido nítrico síntase foram melhor mantidas com o uso da técnica NT no preparo da veia safena. A atividade vasodilatadora e bloqueadora da agregação plaquetária causada pelo óxido nítrico (NO) pode ser a responsável pela proteção da veia contra o espasmo, como também pela alta perviabilidade imediata da mesma. Além disso, as propriedades mecânicas providas pelo tecido gorduroso em volta da veia, contribuíram para o melhor resultado desta nova técnica.